Combination signal device for vehicles



Jan. 5 1926-. 1,568,662

J. G. FRIEMAN Er AL COMBINATION IGNAL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan 15,1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIE-.1.

Jan. 5, 1926. 1,568,662

I ,1. G. FRIEMAN ET AL comsnwrxon SIGNAL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Jar15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 I I I, I w

Guam

Jan. 5,1926. I 1,568,662

- J- G. FRIEMAN ET AL COMBINATION SIGNAL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan.15,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

M; i; 2 /Z M 6 J. G. FRIEMAN ET AL 6 COMBINATION SIGNAL DEVICE FORVEHICLES Filed Jan. 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 5 1926.

J. G, FRIEMAN El AL COMBINATION SIGNAL DEVICE FORVEBICLES Filed Jan. 15,1925 5 Sheets-Sheets Patented Jan. 5, 192 6. v "UNIT so: sr-ArEsaAooB e.

FRIEMAN, oF sr; men, INNES TA, -aNn wILLrAivr A. RANKIIL'OF OAK PARK,ILLINOIS; SAID RANKIN assrenon' mo sarn FRIEMAN.

COMBINATION SIGNAL DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

' Application filed anuar isfiszsi. Serial No. eraser Devices forVehicles, of which the follow ing is a specification. t I The presentinvention relates to a signal device which is adapted to be mounted uponan automobile or like vehicle, for the purpose of enablingthe driver ofthe vehicle to announce or indicate any contemplated change in themovement ofthe .vehicle and .thereby enable pedestrians and drivers' ofother vehicles to. gover'ntheir actions in such manner as to-avoidaccidents.- v

. This signal is inanany respects an aimprovement'upon the: vehiclesignal disclosed in Patent No. 1,399,339, whichwas granted to J. G.Frieman on December 6, 1921, and embodies quite a number ofadditional'features which enlarge the range'of usefulness of the signaland enhance the commercial "valuethereof. .7

'In all of the larger cities, and indeed in most of the smaller cities,the congestion of trafiic has become so great that the use of somesignal of this character ,upon automobiles is getting to be recognizedas a ne} cessity and as essential to safe, driving. Among the objects ofthe present. invention is to provide a signal for vrehicles which has acompact construction so thatit can be readily mounted in position, whichis operated in the proper manner with a minimum amount of attention fromthe driver, and which may be constructed to signal the direction of acontemplated turn, .in addition to displaying the usual Slow and Stopsigns. l

' .lVith the above and other objects in View the invention ronsists incertaincombina tions, arrangements andassociations of the parts, as willmore fully :appe'ar asthe description proceeds, the novel featuresthereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the inven tion, reference. will now be hadto the accon'ipanying drawings forming. a part of this specification,wherein: Y

Figure l is a front elevationof a signal practical and device which isconstructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken awayand shown n section. 1

Figure 21s a. vertlcal sectional, view through the signal device,looking toward the back thereof.

Figure 3;is a top plan View of the device. i

Figure L. is a horizontal sectional view through the lower portion ofthe device,

' looking upwardly.

Figure 5' is a transverse vertical sectional view. 1 f v t Figure ,6 isa detail view of the operating lever for the Stop shutter, together withassociated partsa Y I V V 1 Y Figure 7 is a transverse'sectional viewthrough the direction indicating sign which is provided with the double.headed arrow.

FigureS is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuits for:the various lampsnfi Figure 9 vis a perspective view of afragmentary-portion of a vehicle-frame showing one possible manner ofmounting the signal device upon a vehicle.

Figures 10 and 11 are detail views showing different constructionsfor-automatically returning the S Iowshutter to closed position whenboth'the clutch pedal and brake pedal are pressed forward at thesametime.

drawings by the same reference characters Figure 121s a detail View" ofthe rack and I Referring to the drawings, which illustrate one possibleembodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates a front of thecasing, and 2 the body portion thereof, the said members 1 and 2 havingacomplemental formation and providing a closed housing within which mostof the'mechanism is.

mounted; The casing front'l is'provided at opposite sides'with the Slowsign 3 and the Stop. sign 4, respectively, said signs being preferablyarranged vertically and disposed" toward thetop of the casing so that adirection indicating sign canbe" arranged at the bottom of the casing un-* der the Slow and Stop. signs. The

Slow and Stop signs are in the form of transparencies which are appliedto suitable window openings in the cas ng front 1, and

the direction indicating sign 5 is adapted to he displayed through awindow 6 at the bottom of the front 1. Arranged at the intermediateportion of the front 1, between the Slow sign and the Stop sign 4, arethe two windowsor openings which are provided respectively with a rubyglass 7 and an opal glass 8. The various pieces of glass which fits overthe windows of the easing are clamped between-the casing front and aglass retaining plate or frame 9 which is arranged within the casingfront 1 and secured to the peripheral flanges thereof. The laterallybent edgeportions of the ginssrctaining frame 9 are adapted to telescopewithin the open end of thecasing body 2 and may be suitably reinforced,as indicated at it). The casing front l is thus properly positioned uponthe body of too casing and the two members may be securely fastenedtogether by screws 11 or fastening devices, as indicated more early byFigure of the drawings. The if s retaining frame Dis shown as having eu..l ears 12 stamped thercfronrand bent laterally, said ears beingproperly arranged g e the edge portions of the ditferei'it pieces glassand hold the same against lateral displacement.

The Slow and Stop ly covered'by the shutters 13, which are pivotallymounted upon the casing and adapted to swing laterally in oppositedirections. The shutters are shown as formed of sheet metal and ashaving annular reinforcing ribs 13 stamped therefrom. The upperand/inner corners of the shutters are provided with hub membersl l, andthe outer edges of the respective shuttersare provided with rearwandlyextendingflanges which engage the sides of thecasing when the shuttersare closed. The hub of each shutter is rigidlyattached to the outerendof a shutter operatingshaft which extends transversely through thecasing and is suitably journaled therein.

The shutter ldfor thedirection indicating sign. is horizontally disposedand is adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly about a horizontal axisdisposed at the upper edge thereof. The hinge pintles 17 at the upperend of the shutter 16 engage. appropriate. hinge members 18 which areapplied to the casing front 1, and one of the pintles 17 is formed witha pinion 19 which is engagedby a 'rackQO at the forward end of a shutteroperating plunger 21.

The direction indicating sign 5 is in the form of a transparency whichprovided with a. double headed arrow, means being provided, as will behereinafter more fully set forth, for coveringand concealing. either endof the arrow, so that the arrow can be used to indicate that the driverof the vehicle conten'iplates making a turn. eithe.

s are normal- I 1,5es,ee2

to the right or to the left. This transpar ent sign '5 isslidablymounted efOl horizontal movement within a guide frame-22 which isarranged back of the bottom window 6 of the casing. The guide frame 22has asuitable opening in the front thereof for the display of the arrowsign, and the upper and lower edges of the frame are returned or bent toprovide channel members 22 which slidably receive the same. An arm 23 ispermanently attached to this slidable arrow sign and projects rearwardlytherefrom, providing a means for sliding the same either to the right orto the left so that either one of the heads of the double headed arrowsign may be concealed and the same utilized to indicate a contemplatedturn of the vehicle in either direction. Inthe, particular embodiment ofthe signal which I have illustrated, the double headed arrow sign.5 isnormally positioned with the arrow head at the right handend thereofmoved behind and'con'ceal'ed by the casing so that the sign is in aproper position to indicate a turn to the left. Accordingly, when avle-ft'hand turn is contemplated, it is merely necessary to swing theshutter 16 into an open. position, although. when a right hand turniscontemplated the arrowsign 5 is shifted to the left at the same timethat the shutter is opened, thereby covering the arrow head. at the lefthand end of'thedouble headed arrow and causingthe arrow to indicateacontemplated turn'to the. right.

The before mention'ed operatingshafts 15 for therespective Slow ancPStopshutter 13 have a square or angular crosssection and are twisted atintermediate portions in the length thereof, as'indicated. at 15The'inner end'ofthese shutter operating shafts are received'looselylwithin polygonal openings 24L in the upper ends of correspond in-gshutter operating levers 25. These levers converge downwardly towardeach other and each has a channel shaped cross section, as indicatedmore clearly by Figs. 4 and 1' The side flanges of the channel shapedlevers straddle or receive between them suitable brackets 26 which aresecured to the bacl: of the casing, and the levers are pivotallyconnected at intermediate points iirtl'ieir lengths to the brackets bymeans of the pivot pins 271 The lovers are normally held yieldably ininoperative position by means of coil springs 28 which are connected attheir upper ends to lips 29 pressed outwardly fromthe levers, and attheir lower ends to fixed pins 30 on the brackets 26. The lower andconverging ends of the shutter operating levers 25 are connected to therespective cables 31 and 32 which extendthrough the back of the casingand are carried toward the front of the vehic e, having operativeconnections, respectively,- witlr the clutch pedal C and the brake pedal13' (see Figure lit) slack and sag.

lVith this construction it will be obvious that when either one of thecables" 31 or 32 is pulled upon, the corresponding 'ly and upwardly intoposition to uncover the correspondin sign and expose it to view. As soonas the tension of the cable is released the shutter operating lever 25will be returned toits original position by the action of the spring 28,and this movement of the lever will reversely rotate the shaft 15 andreturn the shutter 13 to its original closed position. i

In Figure 6 of the drawings Iv have illustrated a possible means forsupplying lubricant to the twisted portions 15 of the shutter operatingshafts 15. The outer ends of the said shafts are threaded to receivegrease cups 33 and an axial'passageextends inwardly from the-grease cupand communicates with a transverse opening within which a wick member35*is placed. This wick member is kept saturated with lubricant and theends thereofrare substan- 1' tially flush with the sidewalls of theshaft 15 so that the necessary amount of lubricant will be suppliedtherefrom to the edges of the openings, 24 in the shutter operatinglevers 25 as the latter are oscillated into and out of operativeposition.

. The rear ends ofthe cables 31 and 32 are shown as passing 1 looselythrough opemn gs in the lower ends'of' the shutter operating levers 25and attached to suitable buttons 36 which engage theqlevers The cablespass through suitable guide openingsin a bushing 37 which is'fittedin'the back of the casing,

tubes 38 which are attachedat their rear ends to the bushing 37. As"shown in Figward extremity of the cable 31 having a yielding connection-39 with the "clutch pedal 0. The length of the flexible guide tube 38,between the bracket 10' and the point of attachmentlfl with the vehicleframe, is suificiently great for the'tubular guide memher to. normallyhave a certain amount of VVhentlie clutch pedal C is pressed forwardlythe clutch is opened and tension produced in the cable 31 which and thevarious cables pass through suitably mounted flexible guidecauses theshutter 13 for-the S. ow" sign a; be swung upwardly into. an openposition.

Correspondingli when the brake pedal B a pressed forwardly the cable 32is placed under tension, with the result that the shutter '13 forthefstop sign swung upw rdlv into an open position. If both the clutchpedal C and the; brake pedal B are pressed forwardly at the same time,it is preferred that the shutter 13 for the Slowfsign as"- suine e-rremai'n ina closed position,while the shutter for the ,stop sign isswung into an openpositiom and this result, is"ac complished by thepeculiar cable'connections which I have just, described. Referring againto Figure 9, it will be obvious that when the brake pedal 13 is pressedforwardly, the bracket 40 wh ch is connector to the "brake rod is alsocarried forward, with the resultthat the sag or slack in the flexible Iguide tube 38? is taken up and the effective length" of the cable 31increased, so thatany movement of the clutch pedal C to open theclutchis not sutlicient to take up the slack produced in the cable by thestraightening out of the tubular guide 38. In othei words, the fulllength ofY the cable 31 is greater than is necessary'to produce a-direetconnection between the clutch pedal and the shutter operating lever,although the sun. plus length of the able is normally taken care of bythe sag or'eur-vature of the guide member 38. However, when this guide"member 38?- is straightened out and the sag or curvature removedtherefrom, a slack is 1 produced in the forward end of the cable, withthe result that thenio'veniients of the clutch pedal C in the normaloperation thereof are not sufiicient to produce a tension in thecableandoperate the shutter of the signal. Itwill thus be seen that when boththeclutch pedal and'the brake pedal are moved forwardly at the same time.the shutter 13 for the Stop sign will be swung into an open positionwhile the shutter for the Slow sign will remain in a closed position. Ifthe shutter for theSlow sign was previously in an open position, the

slack produced in the cable 31 by the forward movement of the brakepedal will permit the spring 28 of the shutter operating lever to returnthe shutter for the Slow sign to a closed position.

Another .means for accomplishing the same result is illustrated byFigure 11, in whiclrthe brake rod ll is attachedfto tlna middleportionof the lever 43. One'end of this -l'everjis suitably connected bymeans of a rod ortie member 4+1 to some 13017131011 ,of vehicle frame,such as that shown at 45, while the other end of the lever has the cableconnected, thereto. The usual increment of the brake pedal B thusresults in oscillating the lever4-3 and pulling upon the cable32to-swing the slnitter 13 for the mechanisii therein.

will.

' lever 46 is connected by a rod or cable 31 to the clutch )edal C. Vfhen the clutch pedal G is moved forwardly independently of the brakepedal l), the lever 16 1S swung upon its pivot and the cable 81 pulledto swing the shutter for the Slow sign into an open position. it will beobvious, however, that any movement of the brake pedal results in movingthe axis of the auxiliary lever th forward in such a manner as to U A. q1

that-the operative connection between the clutch pedal and thecorresponding shutter operating lever is destroyed.

The shutter operating lever for the shutter 16 of the directionindicating sign 5 is substantially horizontally disposed, as indicatedby Figures 2 and 4, being pivotally mounted at 48 upon an ear L9projecting from a suitable frame or casting 50 which is secured withinthe interior of the casing 2 for the purpose of facilitat ing theassembly of certain parts of the i The short arm of the shutteroperating lever 47 engages the rear end of the before-mentioned plunger21 which has the rack 20 at the forward end thereof (see Fig. 12). Theplunger extends loosely through a guide bracket 51 which is secured tothe front of the casing, being shown as forming a part of the hingemember L. A coil spring 52, which surrounds the rear end of the plunger,is interposed between the guide bracket 51 and a suitable abutment suchas the nut 53 on the plunger. This spring is placed under compressionwhen the plunger is moved forwardly to open the shutter 16, and as soonas the shutter operating lever 4! is released the energy which wasstored up in the spring moves the plunger back to its original pos1-tion and closes the shutter.

The other end of the shutter operating lever f? is connected-to a cable54 which extends through the casing of the signal and is carried to thefront of the vehicle where it is attached to one end of a cross head 55at the lower end of a shaft 56 which is mounted on the vehicle steeringpost P. This shaft 56 may be suitably journaled within bearings such asthose indicated at 57, and a handle 58 at the upper end of the shaft isadapted to be swung by the driver of the vehicle either to the right orto the left when he contemplates making a turn in either direction. Asecond cable 59. which is connected to the opposite end of the crosshead 55, extends rearwardly to the signal casing and has the end thereofconnected to one arm of a bell crank lever 60 which is suitably pivotedupon a bracke 61 projecting from the frame 50. The two cables 54 and 59extend through the before-mentioned bushing 4? in the back of thecasing, and a flexible guide tube 38 is provided for the rear endportions of these cables. The arm of the bell crank lever 60, to whichthe cable 59 is attached, is adapted to engage the shutter operatinglever 4L7, so that the said lever 47 is necessarily operated when thebell crank lever 60 is operated, although the lever can be operatedindependently of the bell cranl; lever. The other arm of the bell cranklerer terminates in a laterally ofiset eye 62 (see Figs. l and 5), whichloosely re coives he beforeunentioned arm 23 of the arrow igu T he arrowsign is normally in. such a position as to indicate a turn to the left,and when the handle 58 on the steering post is swung to the left, thecable is placed under tension while a slack produced in the cable 59.The pulling of the cable 54 swings the shutter operating lever 47 andopens the shutter 16, although the position of the arrow sign 5 remainsunchanged and this sign indicates that a turn to the left iscontemplated. If the driver of the machine swingsthe handle 58 on thesteering post to the right, the cable 59 is placed under tension and thebell crank lever 60 oscillated about its pivot. This results in slidingthe arrow sign 5 to shift the positionthereof so that the arrow head atthe left hand end thereofis covered up, and the arrow head at therighthand end thereof expose l, thereby causing the arrow to indicate acontemplated turn to the right. As previously explained, the short armof the bell crank lever 60 overhangs the long arm of the shutteroperating lever 47, so that the latter is necessarily operated to swingthe shutter 16 into an open position. It will thus be obvious thatregardless of whether the handle 58 on the steering post is swung eitherto the right or to the left, the arrow sign 5 will be exposed by theopening of the shutter and will be properly positioned to indicate thedirection of the contemplated turn. The

axis of the bell crank lever 60, as shown more clearly by Figure 5, isprovided with a helical spring 63-which assists in returning the leverto normal position when the tension on the operating cable is released.

For the purpose of supporting the guide frame 22, upon which the arrowsign 5 is slidably mounted, in operative position, the frame or casting5O wnich is secured in the back of the casing body at the bottom thereofis provided with a pair of forwardly projecting posts The free ends ofthese posts are recessed and slidably receive the stems of headed:lastenin and positioning members which are secured to opposite endportions of the guide frame 22 (see Figs.

4 and 5) The heads-ofthe'nienibers- 55 ment with the for the hottoin'Window 6 oi thel casing.

This manner of n'io unting' the "parts tends I to tacilitatethe assemblyof the niechanisini yvithin, the casing before the front or; cover is a''ipliedthereto, and the springs 66;,ihold the guide frame 22 in a properengagement w th the glass withoutnny looseness or ratiling of the parts.1 The casing 2 may be secured to the vehicle, preferably at the rear orback portion thereof, in any desiredfn an ner astby'ineans of the bolts67 which are shown at the back of the casing. Asshow'n' by the drawing,the bolts (Ware arranged toward the bottom of theorising" 2L11l61t1llthroughth'e frame orcastin c; 50 onthe in side oi? the casing so as toobtain a firm hear ing and enable the casing to he i'igitll v'fas- 1ten'ed in position. The top ot'xthe easingl'is provided at the hackthereof with "suitable means such as the bracket stripsGSQf reIi .ablingthe usual license plate, such'as that indicated by thev ie'ferencecharacteflP; on Figure 9, to be'attac'hed thereto. J This- 11} 'cense;plate is adapted to be illuminated in of the Slow. sign.

the usual manner ly one of the laiups *ithin the casing which performsall of the functions of the usual tail light on-a vehicle.

As indicated more clearly by- 'Fig ures 2 and 5 of the drawings,anun'rbe'r' of electric lights are mounted Within the casing; one ofthelights being" arrranged baclroffeach the Windows or openin s o't' the'casing',; and suitable ll'lEELDS'bQlIlg provide-d for-111w;

ininating or flashing the different lamps at proper tunes. The lamp 691s arranged back ranged back of the Stop sign. The lamp T1 is arrangedback of the ruby Windovv'T and takes the. place of the usual tail-light;The lamp 72 is arranged bllClCOf the clear glass 8 Which fits over aWindow disposed immediatelybelow the ruby light. Another lamp 73 isarranged at the bottoingot the? casing hack of the window (5through.\vhich' the arrow sign-5 is displayed", Theselan ps are mountedin bases 74 which maybe ot any conventional construction; said basesbelng-secured to the hack of the :CZLSlnfl} and. the base 'Zei'for thetail lightWl'beIng' grounded upon the casing, While the other lampbasesai'e insulated from the casing. The electric circu ts areillustrated::dia; grammatically by Figure 8 and will be clear from ageference to this figure in connection with Flg :2 and 9. The-electriccurrent is ta en. from the usual b tery 7 which forms of the terminalsofeach-otthelamps.

The lanip 7O is .s'ar-t a partof the standarc'leiiuipment for the motorvehicle. One of thQ tQl'll'llHfilS of this batteryls grounded,as'indicated at '76. The

Wire 'E'Tlroan the other hattcrv terminal is Irovided Withthe twobranches T8 and 79. The Y branch 79prov1des the electric currentforilluminatingallot thelainps Within the 'th its current through theWire 7 8. The ,hranch wire 79.is,pi'0v1ded th a switch 80 sing exceptthe lamp 72. which is supplied which is located at some convenientposition,

as upo'n'th'e dash board of the vehicle, so'

that the circuit through the branch Wire; 79

can be-opened or closed as desi::'ed. This circuitv includes-thetaillight 71 ,-and the switch would befclosed When ld'riving thevehicle at night'or in dark places, although in the-daylight the switchWould he opened,

since there would then begno need for illuininat-ing' theilightscontrolled t herebyi There is no switch for the branch \VlI'G 78' whichsupplies 'currentllorthe lamp. 7 2, and lilQChELlllSlfl is provided. foralways flashing this lamp. preferably"intermittently, when the Stop signis displayed: 7 This branch .wire 78 goes through a sepaate'ope'ning 81in thebacl; of the. casing, hile the branch hwire 79 vmay be'connectedtoa conventional plug-which detachably-engages a corresponding socketmember orbushing 82 WithWhich thecasing is provided. On, the insideof'thev casing Wires 83connect'the branch WllG 79 with all'of'thelainphases 74 and with gr pe ie other terminal of, theftail-light 71 isgrounded so thatthe taillight burns continuously as lo'nglas the switch80 is closed, although the lamps 69,1 70 and 73 are normally dark and;are; only caused to burn when the shutters for thefrespective Windowsare noved intolopen positions Thelanip base 7 4 for the lamp 69 Which isbacker thefSlOWi sign is provided with an outwardly projecting springcontact arm 84' Whichis-adapted tobe engaged by a com-- plenientalcontact pin 85 on the adjacent shutter operating lever 25 When the saidleveris oscillated to-ope'n the corresponding shutter 13. This resultsingrounding the circuit through the lamp '69 sothat the said lamp iscaused toburn when the Slovv sign is uncovered. and exposed'to view.although at:other tunes this lamp is dark. In a sim- .ilar manner thebase 74 for the lamp ,70 back of the Stop? sign is provided With an out-\v ardlyr projecting spring Contact arm 86 V which is arranged tobciengaged by a coinpleinental contact -pin-'87' on the adjacent shutteroperating lever 25 when the latter is oscillated to ooperate thecorresponding shutter 13. .;This results in grounding, the

- circuit through the lamp-Wand causing the lamp to burn when the Stopsign is uncovered and displayed to view,. although at all other timesthis lamp'is dark. .It'will iao also be observed that the base 74: forthe lowerilamp 73 provided with a spring eoniact arm 88 which projectsupwardly into the path of the shutter operating lever at? for the arrowsign 5. The circuit through this lamp 78 is thus grounded and the lampcaused to burn when the shutter 16 is swung upwardly to uncover thearrow sign 5, although at other times this lamp is dark. The differentsigns are, of course, of a transparent nature so that they areeffectively illuminated and rendered clearly visible at night by theburning of the lamps when the signs are uncovered and exposed to view.

lVhen the Stop signe is uncovered, the lamp 72 is intermittently flashedand a group; or bell sounded so as to attract attention thereto.interposed in the length of the wire T8, whicl'rleads from thebattery'to one or the terminals of the lamp T2, are the two normallyspaced contact ar ns 89 and. 90. said members being properly insulatedand mounted upon the block 91. The contact arm 90 is arranged in thepath of a cam member 91 so that when this cam member is rotated it willintermittently flex the arm 90 into engagementwith thearm 89 and releasethe same. For the purpose of rotating; the cam shaft 92 a train ofgearing 93 is provided for connecting this shaft to a main shaft 94. Apinion 95 is loosely mounted upon the main shaft and operativelyconnected thereto by a conventional pawl and ratchet device 96 so thatthe shaft will rotate with the pinion when the pinion is turned in onedirection, although the pinion will move independently of the shaft whenturned in theother direction. The pinion is engaged by a rack'9'i'at=the lower end of a plunger 98 which has a yieldable connection withthe adjacent shutter operating lever 25. A suitable r'uide wheel 99 maybe provided for engaging the back of the rack-97 to hold the teeth-oftheraclrin a pro er normal engagement with the pinion 95. The upper end ofthe plunger 98 passes 'slidablv through a guide sleeve 100 which has aswivel connection with the lever 25, and a coil spring); 101whic'hsurrounds the plunger 98 is interposed between the sleeve 100 andan abi'itment provided by nuts 102 at the upper extremity'ofth'eplunger(see 6). The guide sleeve 100 is connected to the shutter operatinglever 25"by 1neans of a pin 103 which is arranged parallel to'thepivot'pm of the lever and connects 'thetwo side flanges off the lever. Thisnecessitates the provision of a clearance slot 104; in "the bracket 26upon which the lever 35 is mounted. andthi's clearance slot'is shown bydotted lines "on Fig. 6. l'iith this construetion it will be'obviou-sthat wh'en the shutter operating lever 25 is operated, the sleeve 100willben'io'v'ed upwardly onthe plunger 98, and energy stored up in thespring 10 Stop 1 sign is uncovered.

ment with the contact strip 89 and releases the same. The cam member is,of course, properly insulated or formed of insulating i'naterial so thatthe circuit will not be grounded at this point. W hen the shutteroperating lever is restored to its original position the guide sleeve100 engages a collar 106 on the plunger so that the plunger is movedback to its original position. The lamp thisher, as this mechanism. maybe called, is not operated at this time, however. owing; to the factthat the pawl and ratchet mechanism 96 now permits the pinion 95 to turnindependently of the main shaft. i

The base 74 of this flashing lamp T2 is provided with an outwardlyprojecting spring contact arm 107, which is arranged in the path of acontact pin 108 projecting laterally from the adjacent shutteroperating- 3 lever 25, so that the circuit through the lamp will begrounded when the shutter operating lever is moved to open the shutterand uncover the Stop sign. This arrangement prevents the lamp 72 fromburning continuously in the event the 'flashingmechanisiu should stopwith the contact arms 89- and 90 held in engagement with each other bythe cam 91. The lamp 72 is normally dark, although when the lever 25 isoperated to uncover the Stop sign, the lamp 72' is grounded and theflashing mechanism set into operation so that this lamp isintermittently flashed as long as any stored u energy remains in thespring 101. At the same'time, as previously explained, the lamp 70 backof the Stop sign is illuminated. The intermittent flashing of the lamp72 serves to attract attention to the signal and this lamp is flashed atall times when the W lVhen the tail light 71 is burning: the licen'stplate P is illuminated through a window 107 in the top of the casing,and the ruby-glass 7 in the front of the casing provides the usual redlight which is required bylaw.

The audible signal is in the form of a bell 109 w'hich'is carried by andarranged with in a perforate housing 109 applied to the back of thecasing, as indicated by Fi ures 3 and '5. The bell clapper 110 is tittedupon aproje'cting end of the shaft 111 extending through the flashingmechanism. The opposits end of the'shaft 111 is provided with an armWhirl; is held by thea 'etion a" iii-ti spring 113 in engagement with asnail cam 114 on the shaft 92. With this construction it will be obviousthat whfer1 the flasher mechanism is set into operation tointermittentlyflash the lamp 72, the clapper 110 isvibrated to sound the bell.;; vThebell housing 109 is secured to the back of the main casing by suitablefastening means 115 and may be shifted slightly for the purpose of thelatter. is displayed.-

positioning the bell in the most adva ntage% ous manner relatlvetotheclapper 110. The. s multaneous operation of the audible signal;

' The "construction of this auxiliaryfsignal device is clearly set forthin my copending application, executed and filed of even date herewith.The device isprovided w tha double headed arrow sign such as'the sign 5hich has been previously described, and

i by the driver of the vehicle.

the position of this arrow is'shifted through the medium of the cables116, so that the sign may indicate a turn to either the "right or theleft. The cables 116 are connected to opposite ends of'the cross head 55so that the two direction indicating signals at the front and rear ofthe vehicle, respectively, are operated simultaneously to indicate thedirection ofthe turn which is=contemplated The direction indicatingsignal can-be operated at any time by swinging the hand lever 58 whichis under the steering wheel-to either the right or to the left, as hasbeen previously described. The display ofthe- Slow and topsignsiscontrolled automatically by the. movements of the clutch pedal 0and the brake pedal B, 'and this phase of the operation of the signalhasalso been fully explained. It will also be obvious that the directionindicating signal may be given simultaneouslywith a warning byuncovering the Slow sign or the Stop sign. Normallytheshutters are: allclosed, and the various shutters are selectively opened to give thedesired signals to pedestrians and other vehicle drivers, the operationof the direction indicatingsignalbeing manually controlled, while theoper ation of the Stop and Slow ignals is automatically controlled,being determined by the movements of the clutch and brake pedals whichare incident to the driving of the vehicle. V

lVhile one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it will be understood that many modifications andchanges can be made without any departure from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. 7

Having thus clescribed'iny invention, what [swing ,the shutter.

I'claim' as new and desire to secure by Let ters'Pat-ent is: I f V l 1-.A signal device of the character described, includingla sign, a shutterfor the sign, and m eans for actuating the shutter? including-a memberdisposed at the axislof the shutter and having a spiral portion incomblnation with another element having asliding engagement with thesaidspiral portion whereby rotary motion is produced to 2. A; signal deviceof the character des'cribed, includi'ng a sign, a shutter for the" sign,a shutter operatingshaft having 1a spiral -Tportion, and' an 4 operatingf element slightly engaging the spiral portion'for 00- operation-therewith to swing the shutter;

i 3. "A signal device of the charactergdeof to'rotate the shaft'andswing theshutte'r.

45A signal device of the character de-.- scribed, including a sign, ashutter normally coveringthesign, a shaft carrying the shut ter andhaving a twisted spiralpo'rtibn, an operating member shdably engagingthe shaft and "cooperating'with the spiral "por-y tion thereof to rotatethe shaft and move the shutter to uncover the sign, and resilient meansfor ret'urningthe shutter to normal-position assoonas it is released.

5. A signal device of the character de-- scribed,'including a sign, ashutter normally covering the sign, a shaft carrying the "shut ter andhaving a twisted spiral portion, a shutter'operatrng lever hav ng oneend. thereof in sliding engagement with theshaft and adapted tocooperatdwith' the" spiral portion thereof to rotate the shaft and swingthe shutter away from the sign, and a spring connected to the lever forreturning the same-to its original position as soon as it is released. I

6. signal device of the character described, including a sign, a shutternormally covering the sign, a shaft carrying the shutter and formed witha spiral pO1tiOl1,'1U6aDS operable from an end of the shaft forsupplying lnbricant to the spiral portion thereof, and an operatingmember slidably engaging the'shaft andcooperating with the spiralportion thereof to rotate the same and swing the shutten 7. A signaldevice of the character described, including a signal, signal operatingmeans, a spring, means connecting the spring with the operating meansfor storing up ene *gy in. the spring upon actuation ofthe signal.operating means, and means actuated. by the energized spring. forattracting attention to the signal while exposed.

8. signal device of the character descril':-c;l, including a si 'nal, aspring, means connecting the spring with the operating means for storingup energy in the spring when the r. ,gnal is operated, and both audibleand visible means actuated by the energized spring for attractingattention .to the signal when the latter is exposed.

A signal device of the character de- ,cribed, including a signal, meansfor stor- 111g up a certain amountof energy when the signal is operated,attention attracting stored up energy.

11. A signal device of the character described, including a signal,means for operating the signal, a 'springactuated plunger, means forautomatically energizing the spring of the plunger when the signal isoperated, a drive shaft, a rack and pinion connection between theplunger and drive shaft arranged to actuate the shaft when the plungeris moved in one direction by the action of the spring and to permit thereturn of the plunger to normal position without rotating the shaft, andattention ttractin means operated by the said shaft.

12. A signal device of the character described, including a signal, asignal operating lover, a plungerha-ving a yieldable connection with thesaid, lever, a shaft, an operative connection between the plunger andthe shaft for rotating the shaft when the lever is operated, andattention attracting mean-s operated by the shaft.

1.3. A signal device of the character described, ineluding a signal, asignal operating lever, a guide sleeve upon the lever, a plungerslidable within the sleeve and having an abutment thereon, a springinterposed between the sleeve and the abutment and arranged tobecompre'ss'ed when the lerer is operated, and attention attractingmeans actuated by the movements of the plunger.

i i. A signaldevice of the character described, including a casingpronidedwith a Sjlow sign, a Stop sign, and a direction indicating sign,shutters normally covering the signs, :operativeconnections be tween theshutters for the Slow sign and Stop sign and movable control elements ofthe vehicle whereby the shutters are automatically controlled by themovements of the said elements incident to the driving of the vehicle,and selective means for setting the direction indicating sign andoperating the shutter therefor.

215. A signal device of the character cleseribed, including a casingprovided with a selectively controlled direction indicating sign, and anautomatically controlled associated warning sign, shutters normally :eovering the signs, and means for operating the shutters eitherindependently :of each other or simultaneously.

In testimony whereof we our signatures.

JACOB G. FRIEMAN. WILLIAM A. RANKIN.

